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Distance examination of livestock with drones - an effective method for assessing health and welfare
No full textDistance examination is an important part of veterinary investigation into ruminant herd health and welfare. The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) explored the use of drones to conduct assessments of the health and welfare status of sheep and cattle. Three methods of distance examination were compared comprising observations; from a vehicle, a “micro” category drone and a “very small” category drone. The disturbance and behavioural reactions caused by the methods were compared. Assessments of adverse health and welfare conditions by each method were compared to observations made at yarding. The preferred method was the use of the very small drone which had the best sensitivity for detection of conditions potentially associated with adverse health or welfare and the best optics at a distance that did not disturb the animals. The optics of the very small drone enabled distance examination without disturbance in both cattle and sheep. Cattle were more sensitive to the presence of the drones than sheep. The micro drone was unable to approach cattle close enough to allow undisturbed distance examination. All methods had similar specificity, however, sensitivity varied markedly. The very small drone had the best sensitivity 86% which was statistically greater than the micro drone (44%, P = 0.05) and better than the vehicle observations, which had sensitivity of 77% (not statistically significant). The selection of an appropriate drone model is essential for accurate distance examination. Distance examination of livestock with drones of suitable optic quality and resolution represents an effective method for assessing animal health and welfare
Long term sustainable use of demersal gillnet and demersal longline in Western Australia’s Temperate Shark Fisheries - Fisheries Research Report 340
No full textThe Temperate Demersal Gillnet and Demersal Longline Fisheries (TDGDLF) are one of the main commercial shark fisheries in Australia. Most fishers in the TDGDLF use demersal gillnets to target sharks with scalefish taken in smaller amounts. Demersal longlines are also permitted but are not widely used. Demersal gillnets are size selective, but they do not necessarily discriminate among species, catching target and non-target species.
The Western Australian Fishing Industry Council (WAFIC) received funding as part of the Australian Government’s Our Marine Parks Grants Program to undertake research on the TDGDLF. This project was administered under the direction of a steering group consisting of WAFIC, the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), and the Southern Seafood Producers WA Association (SSPA).
This project addressed key questions (Is electronic monitoring a viable option for monitoring this fishery? Is the transition from gillnets to manual longlines viable? What are the socio-economic characteristics of this fishery?) relating to the use of demersal gillnets and demersal longlines by TDGDLF fishers. There were three parts to this project, (i) a desktop study, (ii) a 55-day field study using onboard observers and cameras mounted on demersal gillnets and demersal longlines, and (iii) a socio-economic survey
Barley leaf diseases and their management
No full textBarley leaf diseases such as scald, net blotches (net form and spot form), powdery mildew, ramularia leaf spot, leaf rust, and barley yellow dwarf virus, and cereal yellow dwarf virus can reduce yield and grain quality. Correct identification is important in disease management, as diseases differ in their best management strategies
Cucumber mosaic virus and its management in narrow leafed lupins
No full textCucumber mosaic virus (CMV) is a seed- and aphid-borne virus that infects narrow-leafed lupins. Western Australian (WA) grainbelt regions most at risk are the high rainfall zones of the northern and central agricultural region and the south coastal region.
The principal infection source for lupin crops is sowing infected lupin seed
Powdery mildew and its management in wheat
No full textPowdery mildew is a fungal leaf disease that reduces yield and grain quality in susceptible wheat varieties. Disease is both stubble-borne and carried over on green bridge (secondary spread by wind borne spores). It has multiple, fast life cycles in a growing season and can be difficult to control once established. The best approach is an integrated disease management strategy.
With wheat area in Western Australia dominated by susceptible varieties, such as Scepter, powdery mildew remains a concern for growers statewide and has been particularly persistent and damaging in the Esperance Port Zone
Annual ryegrass and its management in crops
No full textAnnual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) is one of the most serious and costly weeds of annual winter cropping systems in southern Australia. It is highly competitive and can compete with a crop as early as the 2-leaf stage.
Annual ryegrass is a winter to spring growing weed that can emerge from late autumn to early spring. The number of emergence flushes and the density of plants that emerge are related to initial seedbank levels and the frequency and amount of rainfall
Windmill grass and its management
No full textWindmill grass is a native species and the tenth most common summer weed species in the Western Australian (WA) grainbelt. It hosts pests and diseases and utilises stored soil moisture that would otherwise be available to the following crop
Field evaluation of female- and male-targeted traps for Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae)
No full textMediterranean fruit fly (Medfly) Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae) is a globally significant economic pest for which lure based trapping can be used to monitor established populations and for surveillance. Either female- or male-targeted traps can be used; however, recommendations on which to apply are inconsistent and many programs rely on male-targeted traps. Here, we compare the performance of male-targeted traps (Lynfield Trap with Trimedlure) and female-targeted traps (Biotrap Globe trap with the 3-component lure—TMA Plus) in apple orchards in south-west Western Australia over 2 years (September 2019 to September 2021). Male-targeted traps caught more Medflies overall than female-targeted traps, although the difference was minor. However, female-targeted traps were better at attracting Medfly early in the season when populations were small; and were more likely to capture at least one fly when their paired male-targeted trap caught none. Conversely, male-targeted traps were more likely to capture Medflies late in the season and were more likely to catch high numbers of Medflies. Consequently, female-targeted traps may be better at detecting Medfly early in the season, and male-targeted traps may be better at detecting Medfly abundance late in the season, at least in apple orchards. Our results suggest that either or both trap-types could be used for monitoring Medfly populations, with the optimal solution being dependent on the intended application
Investigating the impact of ENSO and IOD on the South West Land Division
No full textSince 2000, El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO): El Niño events, have reduced May-June rainfall for some western parts of the South West Land Division (SWLD).
Since 2000, negative IOD events are associated with wetter May-June rainfall, while positive IOD, had drier rainfall, fewer nights below 2°C, and more days above 30°C in August-September.
Since 1960, when ENSO and IOD events combine, La Niña/negative IOD events have higher May-June rainfall. El Niño/positive IOD combined events influence August-September temperature with fewer nights below 2°C, and more widespread occurrence of days above 30°C in the SWLD.
Growers can check ENSO and IOD event forecasts prior to the season to understand the predicted season types to help planning alongside decision support tools such as stored soil water and break of season maps
Packaging Panel - Packaging Unwrapped: Thinking outside of the box
No full textJoin us for a dynamic panel discussion on sustainable packaging, featuring esteemed industry leaders Nerida Kelton from the Australian Institute of Packaging and World Packaging Organisation, Jacqui Kay, Agricultural Produce Commission, and Vikas Ahuja from Tetrapak. Facilitated by Meri Fatin from WA Climate Leaders, this session will explore the latest trends, challenges, and innovations in sustainable packaging practices. Panellist Nerida Kelton, AIP Jacqui Kay, Agricultural Produce Commission, Communications Officer Vikas Ahuja, TetraPak, Sustainability Director Facilitator Meri Fatin, WA Climate Leaders, Conveno